Nixa wrestling is celebrating 25 years of being a program, and in the last quarter century, the Eagles have produced plenty of national talent.
Nixa is coming off a pair of top-five team finishes at state a year ago in both girls and boys, so they know a thing or two about winning.
Nationally ranked senior Zan Fugitt is a two-time state champion, a member of Team USA, and a University of Oklahoma signee.
“I don’t know that Nixa’s ever had a kid at #6 in the nation, which is where Zan Fugitt’s at right now,” said Nixa wrestling coach Dustin Martin.
Fugitt is top ten in his weight class according to the national wrestling website FloWrestling, but he’s not the only one eyeing school records.
“(Brenya Crahan is) a two-time state champion and she’s only a junior so she still has the opportunity to try and be a four-time state champion which Nixa’s never had,” Martin said.
Junior Brenya Crahan is ranked top 15 (14th) at 127 pounds and sophomore Cali Dupree is ranked top 20 (18th) at 152 pounds.
“Returning state finalist. Definitely trying to go out and win a state title this year. At one point earlier this year she was in the top ten,” Martin said.
This year is already an historic year for Nixa – as this is the first time three Eagles have been nationally ranked at the same time.
“I think about it a lot actually but just keep a mindset and even if you’re tired just keep going,” said sophomore Cali Dupree.
“Especially knowing we have two ranked girls from the same team, that’s not very common,” said junior Brenya Crahan.
“Zan and Brenya and Cali they’ve been good athletes and they are constantly developing that technique,” Martin said.
“It’s definitely cool, I hope there’s more wrestlers that come from Nixa like me and work hard and accomplish stuff like this,” said senior Zan Fugitt.
Along with rankings, the Eagles return the program’s first national champion in Brennan Carey.
“He’s not in the national rankings yet but I feel like he’s right on the verge,” Martin said.
With success comes recognition.
“When we travel around people say they recognize Nixa, they’ve heard of that, so these guys are putting Nixa on the map,” Martin said.
A group that’s nationally known but is now focused on bringing state championships home.
